Winnipeg to Fort bus route poised to be eliminated

Ken Johnston

After nearly 30 years of providing bus service between Winnipeg and Fort Frances, Grey Goose (Now Greyhound) will cease service on the route Sept. 6th if the company gets its way.
In a memo issued to agents in Winnipeg, Ste. Anne, Steinbach, Sprague, Rainy River, Stratton, Emo and Fort Frances Greyhound Canada said, “Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp. is proposing to discontinue trips 051 and 052, Winnipeg to Fort Frances via Hwy. 1 and 12.
Greyhound is proposing service to the communities of Steinbach, Ste. Anne and Sprague be discontinued.”
This would leave people who depend on the bus for transportation to and from Winnipeg only one alternative to driving. They can catch an Excel bus in Emo to Kenora and then travel to Winnipeg via bus there. Many seniors use the bus to travel to Winnipeg for medical appointments.
However, with the rules changing on January 1st of this year for freight on the bus route that passes through the United States for 40 miles, the route has become anything but profitable. The freight used to help cover the route’s bottom line. Since Jan. 1st, the bus has stopped carrying freight from Winnipeg to Fort Frances via the US (Warroad to Rainy River).
Anyone wishing to intervene or oppose the changes can do so by filing an intervention using the following criteria:
1. Name and Address of the intervenor opposing
2. Concise statement of intervention; and, detailed statement of how person(s) would be affected by this proposed time change, including evidence pertaining to the intervener’s present use of the bus service.
The person wishing to oppose must file notice with the Secretary of Motor Transport Board before 4:30 p.m., Monday, August 29, 2005, either by mail (MTB, 200-301 Weston St., Winnipeg, MB., R3E 3H4) or by fax (204) 783-6529.
Kenora-Rainy River Member of Provincial Parliament, Howard Hampton, said the bus line has to notify the Ontario Government at least 30 days in advance if they plan to discontinue a route completely. “So far they have not notified the Ontario Government. I will be bringing this up to the Ministry of Transportation myself.”